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People come to Austin Zen Center from myriad backgrounds and circumstances to enter practice. In Buddhism there are said to be eighty-four thousand Dharma Gates.
Newcomers. First-time visitors to AZC have most typically been reading about Buddhism, some have been meditating, some have practiced at other centers. Still Zen practice surprises most people. The best way to begin at AZC, no matter what your background, is to come to the Saturday morning program, especially the Beginners' Intro. Other options are to show up for a scheduled zazen period and wing it, or to drop by the center. Since we are a residential center, there is almost always someone available who can talk with you. (read more)
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What Buddhists Do. The Buddha defined three aspects of practice:
- Living a Buddhist life, including choice of livelihood, skillful speech and compassionate action.
- Cultivating the mind, primarily through meditation, mindfulness in everyday actions and developing skillful attitudes.
- Insight or wisdom, seeing reality for what it is and the personal resolve that emerges from that.
These aspects are supported through various activities at Austin Zen Center.
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Zazen. Zazen (literally "seated meditation"), is particularly emphasized in Zen practice as a means of cultivating the mind. Zazen is actually more general than sitting on a cushion, since it includes being present in each moment throughout the day. Zazen is seen as the foundation for insight and compassionate conduct. Austin Zen Center offers coaching and many hours of zazen opportunities each week; and schedules many sesshins, intensive zazen retreats lasting from one to seven days, throughout the year. Ongoing training in zazen is offered by practice leadiers.
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Study. As a school of Buddhism, Zen is fundamentally experiential, with less focus on philosophical or analytical understanding. Nevertheless it has always contained a scholarly component and is characterized by an extensive literary tradition, most centrally the koans, that manages to turn language back on itself. Austin Zen Center offers evening and noon classes as well as a rich lecture series (see calendar) with many local and visiting speakers. AZC also supports an extensive library.
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Ritual and Ceremony. In view of Zen's reputation for spontaneity and iconoclasm, many are surprised form and ritual so pervasive. Nevertheless it is an important ingredient of Zen mindfulness training, stepping out of self-centered drives and bringing zazen mind into bodily actions. We have services every weekday morning and evening after zazen (see daily schedule).
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Training. Training usually begins with establishing a regular schedule of zazen and attending lectures and classes. Training can be fine tuned through working with a practice leader, who can advise on meditation, practice in daily life, and Dharma. Practice leaders are important in discovering places in which practice gets mired in personal delusion. Those who maintain a practice commitment worked out with a practice leader are said to be "in training," which ideally is lifelong.
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Becoming or not becoming "Buddhist." Buddhism does not set itself apart from other religions, nor attach importance to "converting." It is practice oriented not ideological. Some who follow the teachings of Buddhism choose to identify themselves as Buddhist. Others who identify with another religion find the Buddhist emphasis on contemplative practice a powerful supplement. What may look like worship in Buddhism is actually a dramatic show of gratitude and respect for those who preceded us and for that which is most wholesome in ourselves.
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Ordination Paths and Robes. Soto Zen provides remarkably uniform practices in which all can partake. Nevertheless there are differences in what commitments one undertakes or where one's practice stands. Several types of ordination mark these differences and represent the standards one is expected to hold in one's practice and in service to the community. These are reflected in the different outer robes you see at AZC. It should be noted that you will also see Japanese style clothing that is conventionally worn by Zen practiioners that are options not connected with ordination. (more)
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Householder Practice. Remarkably our practice tradition comes almost entirely out of Japanese monastic practice, yet has been sustained primarily by American householders for several decades. This has been possible because of the great energy many householders put into zazen practice and into the intellectual understanding of the Dharma. The once monastic tradition is slowly but increasingly adapting to the specific needs of householders. In general, though, householders practice no differently than monastics while they are at our center.
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Monastic and Residential Practice. Monastics are people whose entire life is oriented toward full-time practice. This requires enormous faith in the Dharma to sustain the discipline involved, and opportunity to be free from family and other obligations. Monanstics have played an indispensable role in the development and maintenance of Buddhist culture in every Buddhist country. Austin Zen Center includes a Gueat Student Program that has many monastic elements. Some of our members go to Tassajara monastery in California for further monastic training.
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Family Practice. As the Austin Zen Center has grown it has attracted parents in growing numbers. A parents' group finds ways to allow parents of small children to participate in the general activities of the center, and to allow children to take up appropriate practices themselves. (read more)
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Dana. Dana, selfless generosity, is a fundamental practice in Buddhism, and is very much alive at Austin Zen Center, in financial contributions, in volunteer labor in the house and yard, in engagement in our community outreach activities, or in bringing food to receptions and other events.
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Spiritual Friendship. According to the Buddha, "Being a friend with admirable people... is the whole of the holy life." At Austin Zen Center you rub elbows with exceptional people, an antidote for the isolation that often comes with leading an exceptional life.
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